As a small child the family moved to Mobile County Alabama and resided in Prichard, Alabama. He was the 4th of 5 children, had 2 sisters (Bobbie and Virginia) and 2 brothers (Dale and Ray).
He loved music, even built his first guitar at the age of 9 or 10.
When he was in the 9th grade, age of 15 his family built a home and moved to Saraland, Alabama. He was popular in school and made good grades. At the age of 16, he and classmate Johnny Hudgens began singing together, with Hugh playing the guitar. They were good.
Also, at the age of 16 he was talking with a friend (Doug Capps) in the hallway at school. He noticed a girl at the other end of the hallway. He told Doug that she is the girl I am going to marry. Her name was Linda Salley.
He finally got the courage to ask her out on April 21, 1956. He had played his guitar and sang in an amateur contest at Saraland Community Center. He won first place and the prize was a camera. Afterwards, he asked Linda to go out and celebrate with him. They went on a double date with Johnny Hudgens and his girlfriend to get a Strawberry Sundae. Hugh and Linda married January 21, 1958.
Hugh graduated from Satsuma High School in 1958. He and Johnny continued to sing together. They signed a recording contract in 1959 and made one record (Little in Love and Shirley, Shirley). Johnny later went off to college and Hugh stayed home and raised a family.
He became a father, September 25, 1959 (Janet). Another girl (Laura) May 30, 1961 and a 3rd girl (Teresa) “Twins” Susan, October 31, 1965. Susan passed away 3 days after birth.
Hugh worked in insurance for a while, then went on to work for Dr. Pepper Bottling Company in Mobile, Alabama. He went to work for Coca Cola Bottling in Mobile, Alabama in 1962. He was offered a Production Manager position in Nashville, Tennessee in 1980 and worked at Coca Cola Bottling until 1988. He then opened an Electronics business in Franklin, Kentucky until his retirement in 2019.
Hugh always enjoyed music and singing. He sang in a Gospel Quartet (Revelations) in our Church (Satsuma Baptist) in the 1970s. That was a special time for him.
He loved photography, developing his own pictures even before digital photography existed. He was an intelligent man and could repair almost anything. He loved working with his hands.
Since his retirement he has enjoyed working on his computer, watching politics on the television. He also enjoyed having time to putter around in his workshop, working in the yard and getting plenty of rest.
Hugh was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He will be missed by all that loved him.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18